Soccer-Australia name full-strength squad for Oceania qualifier
13:32, Tuesday, 14 September 2004
SYDNEY, Sept 14 (Reuters) - Australia named a full-strength squad of 25 players on Tuesday for next month's Confederations Cup playoff with Solomon Islands.
Australia coach Frank Farina included all of the country's better-known European-based players, including Harry Kewell and Mark Viduka for the two-leg tie they are expected to win easily.
Farina said he did not want to take any chances with the winner earning the right to represent Oceania at next year's eight-nation tournament in Germany.
"It's a completely full-strength squad," Farina said. "These are hugely important matches for us and we will be ensuring we put the best team on the paddock."
Germany, Brazil, Tunisia, Greece, Mexico, Argentina and Japan have already qualified for the Confederations Cup leaving Australia and the Solomon Islands to fight out the last spot.
The first leg of the playoff will be held in Honiara on October 9 with the return match in Sydney three days later.
Squad: John Aloisi, Eddy Bosnar, Marco Bresciano, Tim Cahill, Scott Chipperfield, Simon Colosimo, Ahmad Elrich, Brett Emerton, Vince Grella, Zeljko Kalac, Harry Kewell, Steve Laybutt, Stan Lazaridis, Ante Milicic, Craig Moore, Kevin Muscat, Lucas Neill, Tony Popovic, Mark Schwarzer, Josip Skoko, Mile Sterjovski, Danny Tiatto, Tony Vidmar, Mark Viduka, Max Vieri
